At the Berkeley Playhouse’s opening night showing of “Legally Blonde: The Musical,” there was pink as far as the eye could see: audience members adorned in outfits in shades of pastel and hot pink, bright pink stage projections and pink set designs with pops of white.
The scene was quintessentially Elle Woods, both in terms of her signature color and her positive attitude. Throughout the musical’s 2½-hour run time, audience members excitedly cheered in response to the powerful vocal performances of the cast, stomped their feet in time with the show’s high-energy dance numbers and boisterously laughed at countless witty one-liners.
The audience’s enthusiasm manifested as soon as the lights dimmed and Elle’s Delta Nu sorority sisters popped up in various corners of the theater, taking turns writing messages in a congratulations card for Elle (Ayani Dorsey). As the story goes, Elle and her sorority sisters believe that Elle’s long-time boyfriend, Warner (Milo Boland), is planning to propose to her later that night at a romantic dinner. However, the musical, just like the film that preceded it, follows the fallout of Warner suddenly breaking up our heroine. The reason behind this sudden breakup is, of course, that fashion student Elle “isn’t serious enough” to align with Warner’s future as a Harvard Law student and big-shot lawyer. To prove him wrong, Elle applies and is admitted to Harvard Law School.
Directed by No’eau Kahalekulu, this rendition of “Legally Blonde: The Musical” is campy and heartfelt, combining lighthearted fun with captivating character depictions. Dorsey and Boland’s performances are especially memorable as Elle and Warner. The two extended on the comedic tone established in the opening number “Omigod You Guys,” in their performance of “Serious.” Particularly memorable was Boland’s strategic breach of the fourth wall; he rarely looked at Dorsey and instead catered to the audience with his extravagant dancing and grandiose proclamations of his intellect, perfectly encapsulating Warner’s vanity. Meanwhile, Elle alternates between trying — and failing — to get Warner’s attention by presenting herself as a supportive partner and pantomiming comical frustration to the audience.
In the following musical number “What You Want,” Dorsey mesmerized the audience with her portrayal of Elle’s devotion to Warner, as viewers watched Elle go through the highs and lows of an unrealistic, yet charming, depiction of the law school admissions process. Dorsey is most impressive in scenes where portrayal of Elle departs from the bubbly, larger-than-life figure we all know. The actress effectively reveals the vulnerable, deeply relatable aspects of Elle’s characterization, including her desire to maintain her authenticity while being accepted by others.
The titular track “Legally Blonde” is by far Dorsey’s greatest performance of the night. As Elle reckons with her place at Harvard Law School and its career implications, her character arc, and Dorsey’s own performance, reaches its transformative peak.
The vast majority of the musical, however, doesn’t pack a punch because of its awe-inspiring dramatic elements, but because of its sass and attitude. “Legally Blonde: The Musical” is deeply distinguished from its source materials — the “Legally Blonde” film and novel — by way of its amusing and raunchy comedic stylings. The show may be extravagant, but it is never too absurd. Even in the songs that are notably out-of-pocket, such as “Ireland,” “There! Right There!” and “Bend and Snap,” the cast manages to depict potentially sensitive subject matter — including commentary on homosexuality — in a comical manner, while still being considerate and welcoming toward the audience.
In these particular numbers, Elizabeth Curtis stands out as Paulette, the middle-aged hairdresser who Elle befriends while at Harvard. Paulette, like Elle, struggles to find a guy who will love her as she is. Curtis’ booming vocals emphasize the humor embedded in “Ireland” while conveying Paulette’s sincerity. This serves to make Paulette less of a caricature and more of a multifaceted individual.
Thus, with an 80-20 mix of comedy and introspection, Kahalekulu’s rendition of “Legally Blonde: The Musical” is a perfect start to the Berkeley Playhouse’s MainStage season. For die-hard “Legally Blonde” fans and musical theater enthusiasts alike, it’s hard not to enjoy yourself.